Knockdown folding couch.



I PATENTEDJULY '21, 1908. W J, GROTENHUIS. v KNOGKDOWN FOLDING COUCH.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1906.'

were light, they accordance with WILLIAM J.

GROTENHUIS,'OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO SANITARY .S'IEEL COUCH COMPANY, OF ELKHAR'I, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

KNOCKDOWN FOLDING COUCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ju1 '21, 1908.

Application filed. November 30, 1906. Serial No. 345,650.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J GROTEN HUIS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Elkhart, Elkhart county, Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Knockdown Folding Couches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to-folding couches, and more particularly steel or metal frames. Couches of this character have been made which were satisfactory in use, but prior to my invention they could not be shipped economically. While they could not, owing to the shape and disposition of the legs, be packed close together, and highfreight rates were invapably hecase. For the same reason,

the users could not conveniently store a couch of the old t pe. With my invention, however, the cone is of a knock-down character, the legs folding under to permit the couch to be shipped in a flat condition. In this way, the couch is, in addition, more con .veniently and economically stored. Also, in

I my invention, the knock down arrangement of the couch 1s of such character that nospecial skill or tools are required in setting it up. Consequently, I accomplish a saving to the manufacturer without inconvenience to the user.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a couch embodying the principles of my invention, showing the same open. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 22 in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detailiviews of the construction. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the couch clbsed or folded. Fig. 6 is a artial side view of the couch in a kn0ck( own condition. Fig. 7 is an underneath plan view of one end ofthe couch in a knock-down condition. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of different parts of the construction.

The couch may be of any suitable type, but is prcferablybuilt of steel or other metal arts, and is composed of a body A and two olding sides or wings B. These wings or sides are hinged to the body at b, and are adapted to drop down, as shown in Fig. 5. The body is provided with legs C, which raise the couch a suitable distance above the door.- Saidlegsare arranged in pairs at 0p osite ends of the couch, and .the members 0 each pair are rigidly connected by cross-bars c.

to those having light.

Brace bars 0 swingingly connect the legs with the side rails a of the bed or body. Or-- dinary bolts D, two for each end of the couch,

secure the up er ends of the legs to the end beams a of tlie body. It will be seen that the legs are of angle iron, and that their upper ends engage outside the rails a and inside the beams a, which rails and beams are also preferably of angle iron. Furthermore, it will be seen that the upper ends of the le s, whenunfolded, are interposed between the epending flanges (L -a of the end bars a -a and the ends of the rails a-a, slight space being left for this purpose, to make a more rigid and compact and serviceable structure. In this way, the upper ends of the legs en age just outside of the side bars a, and in 100 ing engagement therewith. With this arrangement the upper ends of the legs are locked against displacement, even before the screws or boltsD are inserted. Consequently very little strain if.any is imposed upon the said bolts or screws.

The top or supporting structure of the bed or body is composed of slats Eliaving their ends securedto the beams a by coil Springs 6. Said swinging sides or wings B are also preferably composed of angle iron frames strung with slats b and coil springs 11 The rails a are elevated at each end, so that the entire upper surface or flat supporting structure is held above thebody frame of the couch. As shown, the legs are provided with slots 0 adapted to receive the deiloctable braces F which are pivoted on the sides B,

preferably by rivets 'or boltsf. These braces F have notches f adapted to engage the lower edges of the slots 0 as shown in Fig. 1.. When the braces are lifted, then the sides B can fold into the position shown in Fig. 5, the braces projecting loosely through the said slots. When the bolts D are removed, the legs O can be folded under the couch, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, thus adapting the couch to be shipped in a flat or knock-down condition. The user can easily insert the two bolts when the couch is to be used, and

thus a great saving in cost of transportation of the top of the couch, and said end bars rest uplon the upper ends of the legs, which latter w en folde are entirely inside of the end bars, and Wholly within the area of the extensible top of the couch.- In this way the legs .do not pro'ect beyond the ends of the couch when knoc ed down for shipment.

ner sides of the end bars.

2. In a couch, end-bars for the same, side rails connecting the end-bars, angle-iron legs, a single link pivotally connectin each leg with one of sai ils, and means for removably securing t e teps of said legs inside of said end bars/each link having one end pivoted inside f an angle-iron leg and the. op ositeend p oted on the outside of a side ra a. A folding in knock-dovoouch havin swinging/side members, foldin legs. rovide with slots, said legs when f0 ded ying entire inside of the ends and sides of the couch, means for rigidly'connecting together the we legs at one end of the couch, means for rigidly connecting together the \two legs at the other end of the couch, side barshaving upturned ends engaging said legs, and

braces pivoted on said members and provided with notches adapted to engage the lower-edges of said slots, when the legs are unfolded, to support the said members in horizdntal position, said legs adapted to be unfolded to. bring said slots into position to reeeive said braces, said braces ada ted to fold uppnthe bottoms of the sides w en the legs are folded.

4. In a folding or knock-down couch, the

r combination of folding side members, folding legs connected in pairs, one pair at each end ofthe couch, means for hinging the legs to swing flat-wise upon the bottom of the couch,

\ and entirely inside of the ends of the couch,

means for securing the legs in upright positions to support the side members in either Vertical "or horizontal positions, side bars having ends for holding the tops of the legs in place, andtbraces pivoted on the side memers and adapted to removably engagesaid legs when thexlatter are unfolded, and adapt- I ed to fold uponthe bottoms of the sides when the le s are folded.- I

5. folding or knock-down conclLheving swinging side members, folding legs-Rnnected in pairs, one pair at each end of the couch, means for lungmg the legs to swing flat-wise upon the bottom of the couch, and

entirely inside ofthe ends of the couch,

means for securin the legs in upright positions tosupport t e side members 111 either vertical or horizontal positions, side bars having their ends disposed immediately inside of the axes of said side members, and means whereby the legs when unfolded support the sidemembers in position to extend the area of the couch, adapted to fold'upon the-bottoms of the sides when the legs are'folded and the sides unfolded to make the couch flat, I

hanging the upper ends of the folding legs, so

that said legs have their upper ends covered when unfolded and secured in place, said legs and all said braces being adapted to fold flatwise-upon the bottom of the body and sides, said legs adapted to be unfolded to support the sides in position to extend the area of the couch.

7. A folding or knock-down couch having a top provided with means for unfolding or extending it laterally, to present a fiat top of sufficient width, side bars dis osed immediately inside of said means, and iaving knock.- down or foldable legs connected to swing toward each other from opposite ends of the couch and adapting the same for shipment in a flat condition with the legs folded and the top unfolded, each le adapted to be swung into position to keep t 1e top extended, as set forth.

8. In a folding or knock-down couch, the combination of end bars, side bars connecting the end bars, a supporting fabric or structure stretched from one end bar to the other, folding legs connected in pairs and having their upper ends disposed underneath and inside of said end bars, but outside of said side bars, so that the end bars rest upon and cover the upper ends of the legs, means for detaching zthe upper portions of said legs from the said'erid bars, to permit the two pairs of legs to fold teward each other upon the bottom and outer'rsides of the side bars, with the upper ends of the legs within the area between the end bar but in line withvthe side said legs being connected in pairs at opposite ends of the couch, the pair of legs at one end of'the couch being adapted to fold underneath the same and toward the pair of legs at the other end thereof, said legs when folded lying entirely inside of the ends of the folding top and between-the folding-sides, and side bars lying inside the tops of the legs when the latter are in use.

10. In a folding or knock-down couch, the combination of end bars, side bars connecting the end bars, a supporting fabric or structure stretched from one end bar to the other, folding legs connected in pairs, means for detaching the upper portions of said logs from the said end bars, to permit the two pairs of legs to fold toward each other upon the bottom of the side bars, braces each having one end pivoted to a leg andthe other end pivoted to a side bar, each leg having but a single brace'pivoted thereon, folding sides for the top of the couch, hinged to'the end bars at points outside of the ends of said side bars,

and means for supporting the sides on the.

I legs when. the latter are unfolded, adapted to he flatwise on the bottom of the sides when the legsare unfolded and the sides unfolded to make the couch flat, said legs being of a height to lie wholly within the area between the end bars when-the legs are folded.

11. In a couch, the combination of end bars of angle iron, side bars dropped slightly but turned up at their ends to engage inside of said end bars, folding side members hinged to the ends of said end bars, at points immediately outside of the ends of said side bars, a fab ric stretched between said end bars and folding side members, a pair of folding legs for each end bar, a single link swingingly connecting each leg withone of said side bars, means for detachably securing the tops of said legs within and underneath sai end barsv and means for su iortin said foldin a P) h side members on the legs when the latter are unfolded. I

.12. In a couch, the combination of folding side members, folding legs, means for supporting the side members horizontally by the unfolding or upright positioning of the lgs,

side bars having their ends engaging the tops of the legs, and means by which the folding movements of the side members are in a Vertical, plane at right angles to the vertical plane of the folding movements of the legs, said couch adapted to be made flat by folding the legs'and unfolding the side members.

13. In a couch having a top andfolding sides therefor, swinging braces for said folding sides, folding legs adapted to swing into position to receive said braces, and meansfor fastening the tops of the legs inside of the top, as set forth.

14. In a knock-down couch, a rigid frame composed of end and side bars, a air of legs for one end of the couch, a pair of egs for. the

other end of the same, and means for detachcomposed of end and side bars, the end bars projecting beyond the side bars, swinging sides hung on the ends of said end bars, legs for each end of the couch, means fordetachably securing said legs to the inner sides of the end bars at points outside of the ends of said side bars, and means for detachably supporting said swinging sides on said legs.

17. In a knock-down couch, a rigid frame composed of end and side bar's, legs for said couch, and a single screw. or belt for securing the upper end of each leg inside of an end bar and in locking engagement with the end of a side bar.

Signed by me at Elkhart, Indiana, this 24th day of October, 1906.

WILLIAM J. GROTENITUIS. Witnesses:

EUGENE D. LUKE, ALBERT G. BOIIN. 

